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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rare, Rair, n. Also: raire, rayr. [Sc. form corresp. to midl. and south. ME and e.m.E. rore, roar(e (see Rore n.), f. Rare v. Also in this form in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial.: cf. also OE wulfa-gerár.]

1. A roar or cry, uttered by a person or persons, expressing grief, pain or anger. b. Uttered by an animal. c1420 Wynt. iii 872.
Thai rowpyd wytht a rare Ib. v 1916.
Ay wytht rarys reche he berde c1450-2 Howlat 826 (A).
The barde … gaif a gret raire a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 85.
Than dynnyt the duergh … With raris, quhil the rude hall reirdit agane a1500 K. Hart 756.
Than come diseis in rydand with ane rair ‘The quene is went, allace, I wait nocht quhair!’ 1513 Doug. vi iii 128.
Sum … the gret beir vpbair, A dulful office, with mony sob and rayr 1528 Lynd. Dreme 271.
Thay … pynit in that pytt, … with mony reuthfull rair a1538 Abell xviii a.
This kingis stok image ilk day … gaif ane rair and ane rowt lyk ane bull 1570 Sat. P. xiv 116.
The babe he gifis ane rair Ib. 3. 1603 Philotus 287.
[An old man] Ay rumisching with rift and rairb. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 90.
The wildbair … Into ane furie he ran fast, … With mony rout and rair

2. transf. A loud noise or din made by an inanimate agent. 1513 Doug. i ii 11.
And thai [the winds] … About thar closouris brayng with mony a rare Ib. ii x 122.
Than with a rair down duschis the mekil aik Ib. iii viii 138.
Sum tyme it [Mt. Etna] … stanys vpwarpys in the ayr Rownd in a sop, with mony crak and rayr Ib. v viii 54.
Hys grave body … Ruschyt flatlyngis to the grond with a rair c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5998.
Than, with one rair, the erth sal ryue 15.. Clar. v 2322.
Thair speiris brake … The royall palice reardit with the rair